Jack Edward Beets

On May 19th, 2017, our beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather, friend, and hero, Jack Edward Beets, passed away peacefully at John Knox Village in Lee’s Summit, MO. Jack was preceded in death by his loving wife, Wilma Jean “Jeanie” Beets on December 24, 2009. Jack is survived by his four children: Gary Beets and wife Mary Beets of Lee’s Summit, MO, Vickie Bruner of Independence, MO, Karen Kohl, and husband Al Kohl of Bailey, CO, and Greg Beets and wife Michelle Beets of Louisburg, KS. Jack is also survived by 5 grandchildren: Justin Beets and wife Lindsay Beets, Travis Beets and wife Ashley Beets, Kaity Nebeker and husband David Nebeker, Henry Beets, and Andrew Beets. In addition, Jack was also lucky enough to welcome four great grandchildren into this world: Meyer Beets, Macklin Beets, Benjamin Nebeker, and Aden Manzaking.

Visitation and funeral services will be held at Mt. Moriah Funeral Home at 10507 Holmes Rd, Kansas City, MO. The visitation will take place on Wednesday, May 24th, 2017 from 6-8 pm. Funeral will take place on Thursday, May 25th at 11 am.

Jack was a devoted and proud employee of UMB Bank for 53 and a half years of his life serving as Senior Vice President in the Correspondent Banking Department. In his job duties, Jack traveled all over Kansas and Colorado and made countless friends with bankers all over those states. He was a 50 year member of the Kansas Bankers Association. Jack served in the Army in WWII and was a supporter of veteran’s organizations such as Wounded Warrior Project and Disabled American Veterans.

It is hard to put into words how difficult it is to say goodbye to someone like Jack. He meant so much to so many people, as a father, grandfather, great grandfather, friend, and colleague. We are all so lucky to have shared so many great experiences with Jack. Anybody who was fortunate enough to meet him will remember his unbelievable kindness, adoring smile, and his plethora of jokes. Jack had an uncanny way of relating to every person he talked to, and treated every person he came across like they were a lifelong friend. Jack had a way of making your day better just by being around him. For most of us, people come and go, but there are certain people that touch the depths of your heart and you never forget them. Jack was one of those special people. All of us are better for having learned from, and been around Jack, and that is his ultimate legacy he will leave behind: one of laughter, kindness, and love. We will forever miss Jack, there is no replacing somebody like him, but we are comforted by the fact that he is reunited with his wife of 59 years, Jeanie, and they are laughing, singing, and dancing together in Heaven. Jack and Jeanie would have celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary on May 27th. So while today we weep for our loss, tomorrow we will remember what made him so great, and how lucky we were to be able to spend so much time around this incredible man, who was too full of life to ever truly be gone. Rest in peace, Dad, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, Jack, may we meet again someday. We love you.